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The story in 100 words
Over 30 million passengers set sail on a cruise every year. But cruises are no longer just the preserve of the retired or elderly. Cruises now cater for most types of travellers, from couples to families as well as solo travellers. Those going for the first time need to be aware that advertised prices are rarely the final price paid. Room positioning, drinks, Wi-Fi, and excursions often cost extra and can have a significant influence on your overall experience. However, cruises enjoy high satisfaction rates and those who book them often return for another shortly afterwards. For exotic destinations, travellers can use DocHQs travel vaccine checker to make sure that they are sufficiently vaccinated before they depart.
The story in 500 words
Over 30 million passengers set sail on a cruise ship each year, with just over two million of those made up of British travellers. With those numbers set to increase further still throughout 2020, it may be the case that you are looking at taking a cruise for the first time. But what do you need to know before taking the plunge and booking your first ever cruise?
Who Are Cruise Holidays Best Suited to?
Over the years, cruise holidays have almost become synonymous with being either a retiree or an old-age pensioner. However, while it’s true that this particular age group still takes the lion’s share of the market, the demographics of cruising are shifting. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports, the average age of a cruise passenger is now just 46.7 years old.
Cruise lines have shifted their focus to cater to nearly every type of traveller. From young couples looking for a romantic getaway to solo digital nomads looking to experience slower-paced experiential travel as they continue work away on their laptops.
Where Can You Cruise?
The answer is pretty much anywhere that has a body of water big enough to enable the navigation of a ship! Whether that’s through Norwegian Fjords or the Pacific Ocean, cruise lines offer a wide range of destinations that stretch right across the planet. Currently, 32% of the world’s cruise ships are active in the Caribbean, with a further 17% based in the Mediterranean, with the remaining vessels situated in popular destinations such as China, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe and Alaska. The most popular cruising destination for British tourists is the Mediterranean, with at least 750,000 passengers opting to cruise through this region every year.
How Long Are Cruises?
There’s no doubt that cruising mostly falls into the category of luxury travel. The global average cost for a week-long cruise is $1,791 per person, which is £1,371 at today’s (February 2020) exchange rates. However, bargains can still be found by targeted “repositioning cruises” that offer up to two weeks of travel for less than £100 per week.
What You Need to Be Aware of Before Booking Your Cruise
One item you should note if you’re not familiar with cruising is that the price advertised is rarely (if ever) the final price you will end up paying. There are a whole host of items and services that you are likely to want to have at your disposal during your cruise that you’ll need to pay extra for. Drinks packages, preferential room positioning, Wi-Fi access, and excursions when on land will all cost you extra.
Looking After Your Health On Board
Being on a ship with several hundred (or even thousand) other passengers does present some risks to your health. But by applying common sense, you should be fine. Wash your hands regularly, and make sure you’ve had the correct vaccinations for the region you are travelling to.
Top Tips for Making the Most of Your Cruise Holiday
Now you know what to expect when taking a cruise holiday, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your holiday:
- Book a room right in the centre of the ship if you get seasick
- Never take out travel insurance with the cruise line
- Save a fortune on drinks with an all-inclusive drinks package
- Don’t forget to pack your formal wear
- Book your own activities onshore
The full blog
Over 30 million passengers set sail on a cruise ship each year, with just over two million of those made up of British travellers.1,2 With those numbers set to increase further still throughout 2020, it may be the case that you are looking at taking a cruise for the first time.
Whether you are looking to island-hop your way through the Caribbean, or you’re intrigued by a sauntering trip down the Danube, a cruise has the unique appeal of offering up a different location to wake up to every morning. It’s imprtant to take a break from work for your health and wellbeing. But who are cruises suitable for? Are they really just for more mature travellers? Or do they suit families and couples too? What are the things you need to be aware of both before and during your holiday? And how do you look after your health when surrounded by so many other passengers?
Who Are Cruise Holidays Best Suited to?
Over the years, cruise holidays have almost become synonymous with being either a retiree or an old-age pensioner. However, while it’s true that this particular age group still takes the lion’s share of the market, the demographics of cruising are shifting. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reports, the average age of a cruise passenger is now just 46.7 years old.3 Hardly what you would call retirement age. This shift is thanks to increases in younger age groups and families trying cruise holidays for the first time.
So apart from stereotypical retirees, which types of travel parties are finding cruise holidays particularly attractive?
Couples
Increasingly, cruise lines are targeting younger couples with their offerings. Viking River Cruises offer specific packages that appeal to honeymooners or those looking for a romantic getaway. But cruising for couples isn’t limited to rivers. Celebrity Cruises offer guests adults-only voyages with expansive spa facilities and fine dining. Perfect for the more mature couple looking to enjoy a few of the finer things in life.
Families
One of the fastest-growing market segments within the cruise industry is family groups. Many of the big names now tailor whole ships to deliver the perfect family holiday. For example, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean have ships that include outdoor waterparks (with impressive waterslides), surf machines, indoor skydiving, and arcades. Disney Cruise Lines even have cruise ships which offer up the opportunity for children to meet and greet their favourite characters.
Digital Nomads and Solo Travellers
Digital nomads (location-independent workers) and solo travellers are making up an increasing number of passengers aboard cruise ships. Substantial investment made into Wi-Fi speed and on-board connectivity has opened up cruising to a new market of freelancers. Today these individuals can take care of work while sitting on their balcony, drinking in majestic vistas of the open seas. In many cases, the cost of a cruise is similar to that of a flight to the same destination.
The cruise industry is also opening up to those holidaying solo. Many operators now offer single cabins, single-friendly activities, and solo lounges while eradicating single supplements. These moves have been met with positive feedback, with more than 66% of Generation X and more than 71% of Millennials having a more positive attitude about cruising today compared to two years ago.4
As you can see, cruises now cater to almost any demographic. With your curiosity peaked, you may now be wondering where you can go on a cruise, how long you can for, and of course how much it will cost you!
Where Can You Cruise?
The answer is pretty much anywhere that has a body of water big enough to enable the navigation of a ship! Whether that’s through Norwegian Fjords or the Pacific Ocean, cruise lines offer a wide range of destinations that stretch right across the planet. Currently, 32% of the world’s cruise ships are active in the Caribbean, with a further 17% based in the Mediterranean, with the remaining vessels situated in popular destinations such as China, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe and Alaska.5
Despite the dominance of the Caribbean in terms of ship deployment, the most popular cruising destination for British tourists is the Mediterranean, with at least 750,000 passengers opting to cruise through this region every year.6 This dominance is primarily thanks to the proximity and ease of access from British ports.
However, other destinations are increasing in number. The fastest-growing destinations for British cruisers are long haul locations. South America, the Panama Canal, Africa and the Middle East saw passenger numbers increase by 25%, while China welcomed record numbers of British passengers (44,000), representing an increase of 22%.7 We have some great survival tips for airports on your flight and more information about how to stay healthy on holiday.
In terms of when is the best time to take a cruise holiday, they are available all year round. In the British summer months, cruises in and around Europe are most popular. But the winter months open up the Caribbean to visitors after the cessation of hurricane season in early October.
How Long Are Cruises?
One of the most significant developments in the industry over the last decade has been the variation in cruise lengths. Today, you can either hop on a 72-hour river cruise or spend well over a month at sea. You can even undertake a 100-night around-the-world cruise if you so desire.
The options are almost limitless; the only determination you’re likely to have when it comes to the length of the cruise will be the cost. In virtually all circumstances, the longer the journey, the more it will cost. With that in mind, what can you expect to pay for a cruise holiday? Perhaps more importantly, what’s included within the price you pay?
How Much Does a Cruise Cost?
There’s no doubt that cruising mostly falls into the category of luxury travel. The global average cost for a week-long cruise is $1,791 per person, which is £1,371 at today’s (February 2020) exchange rates.8 When you take into account that you can quite easily achieve an all-inclusive holiday in the Mediterranean (where the highest proportion of Brits cruise) for less than £500 per person, there’s no denying you are paying a premium for a holiday that transports you from location to location.
According to Planet Cruise (all prices correct at time of writing), you can snap up a 2-night cruise calling at London, Amsterdam and Newcastle for as little as £146 per person with Cruise and Maritime Voyages. A similar length (3 nights) in the Mediterranean would set you back £429 with Costa Cruises (flights to Marseille included).
The cheapest week-long cruise available takes in Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium during Christmas Market season for just under £449. By contrast, the current most affordable two-week cruise allows you to take one of the maiden voyages on P&O’s “Iona” ship (set to begin service in late 2020) taking in the coastal cities of Spain and Portugal before returning to the departure port of Southampton. It’s not much more expensive either – coming in at £699 per person – which represents only a £250 increase for an extra week’s sailing.
If the Caribbean if your preferred destination, Royal Caribbean offer the best deal, offering up the Eastern Caribbean islands in a round trip from Miami for just £797 (flights to Miami included). However, if Asia interests you more, you can snap up an 8-night cruise taking in China, Japan, and Hong Kong with MSC Cruises for £849.
If you’re after a real bargain, you’ll need to hunt down deals for so-called “repositioning cruises”. These cruises offer you the chance to live a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget as a ship makes its way from one popular cruise region to another when the weather begins to change.
The most famous “repositioning” itineraries are from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean in Autumn and vice versa in Spring. These types of deals are last-minute, poorly-publicised, and aren’t available for long, so you’ll have to keep your wits about you if you want to snap up a luxurious cruise 2-week cruise for as little as £200. Please keep in mind that these are one-way cruises, so you will need to factor in your flights home from your final port.
One item you should note if you’re not familiar with cruising is that the price advertised is rarely (if ever) the final price you will end up paying, even on repositioning cruises. There are a whole host of items that you are customarily expected to pay extra for on-board, including preferential cabin (stateroom) positioning. So what do you need to know before booking your cruise holiday?
What You Need to Be Aware of Before Booking Your Cruise
As mentioned, there are many so-called add-ons to a cruise holiday that many travellers would consider necessities when on holiday. Take the cabins (sometimes referred to as staterooms) for example. The prices quoted above are for what are known as “inside” rooms with no windows. You will have to pay extra for a window, and even then, the view may be blocked by a lifeboat or another immovable object. Therefore, it’s wise to take the time to familiarise yourself with the room vocabulary and pick a room size and standard that matches your preferences.
Next, even though food and snacks are included as part of your ticket price, drinks are usually extra. This is especially true for alcoholic beverages. There are often a few tiered options to drinks packages, culminating in an unlimited package for a set fee per day. You will have to think about how many drinks you’re likely to consume on-board, before factoring them into your overall budget. The dining options are quite often buffet in nature, and if you want a more intimate experience you may have to pay to upgrade to an on-ship restaurant.
Thirdly, while the majority of on-board activities such as swimming pools and jogging tracks are free, you may have to pay supplementary fees for other activities such as spa treatments, rock climbing and even roller coasters! Yes, roller coasters! These fees should only be nominal and shouldn’t factor too large in your overall budgets, but you should be aware of them all the same.
Many cruise lines ask for mandatory or semi-mandatory tips (gratuity) for ship personnel during your trip. These systems are operated differently across cruise lines, and some have done away with the practice altogether by including tips in the ticket price. Since these service charges quickly run into an excess of £15 per day per person, it’s essential to cover these costs in your overall budget.9
Finally, many of us feel detached from the world without access to the internet, and Wi-Fi comes at a premium while out at sea. Some cruise lines do offer some form of restricted Wi-Fi access included within the basic price, but many will charge you up to £25 per device per day to take care of all of your social media, emails and other browsing needs. For those of you looking for a digital detox in between port destinations, then this doesn’t pose a problem. But if you are a digital nomad, then you need to pay close attention to what you’ll be paying to continue your location independent lifestyle.
While it may feel like we need Wi-Fi to function, without our health and wellbeing intact, we genuinely cannot function. So what do you need to be thinking about when it comes to health while roaming the open seas?
Looking After Your Health On Board
Being on a ship with several hundred (or even thousand) other passengers does present some risks to your health. Firstly, as you’re on a boat, seasickness is going to be a factor. Free seasickness relief should be available on-board, but it’s always a good idea to take your own, especially if you know that a particular brand or product works better for you than others.
When it comes to washing hands, it’s best to take a common-sense approach. Always make sure to wash hands after using bathroom facilities, before handling food, and after a prolonged period of touching untreated surfaces. With so many people sharing the same facilities, it’s very easy to catch an illness if you don’t exercise proper personal hygiene methods. If you do fall ill on-board, there will be a doctor available to help you relieve your symptoms.
Finally, depending on where you are in the world, you may need to take the appropriate travel vaccines before departure. Yellow fever, malaria, and typhoid are just a few of the diseases that will require prior vaccination or medicines before setting sail to parts of the world where these illnesses are more prevalent. In the case of malaria, you may need to take medication throughout your journey to ensure you don’t contract it.
Top Tips for Making the Most of Your Cruise Holiday
Now you know what to expect when taking a cruise holiday, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your holiday:
- Book a room right in the centre of the ship if you get seasick – If you think the waves may get to you, book a room bang slap in the middle of the vessel in the lower decks where the movement will be limited. Alternatively, if you fancy yourself as a bit of a sea baby, you can secure great discounts by accepting a room at the very front, top, or back of the ship where the rocking motion is much more severe.
- Never take out travel insurance with the cruise line – Cruise lines will often try and offer you travel insurance for your trip as an added extra. However, when compared to conventional travel insurance providers, not only are they more expensive, they also provide a lot less in terms of cover, particularly for the land portions of your holiday. Therefore, always opt-out and book your own cover.
- Save a fortune on drinks with an all-inclusive drinks package – If you like to have a tipple when on holiday, then many cruise lines’ all-inclusive packages will provide excellent value. In some cases, it will only take a few glasses of an alcoholic beverage to begin to bank a sizeable saving when compared to buying on-board. It’s not unusual for British holidaymakers to consume over £50-worth of drinks for just £20.
- Don’t forget to pack your formal wear – Every cruise line has at least one formal night at the main dining venue. You are expected to dress to the nines, which means for women lavish evening gowns, and tuxedos or dark suits for men. When it comes to other clothing options, don’t forget to pack a range of footwear, including flip-flops and trainers, as well as smart shoes for your formal dinners. A waterproof coat (no matter what time of year) is also always a good idea.
- Book your own activities onshore – Most cruise lines will offer excursions from each port, but these are often overpriced when compared to local companies providing the same services. If you’re prepared to travel independently, you can take in the same sights for a fraction of the price. Make sure to check your itinerary before making arrangements, as some cruise lines include excursions within the ticket price.
Cruise Holidays Cater for All Types of Traveller
Cruise holidays are no longer solely the preserve of the retired and elderly; far from it. A much broader demographic has been attracted to this way of holidaying, and what’s more, they keep coming back. According to research undertaken by both of the major international cruise line associations (CLIA, FCCA) 82% – 92% of passengers disembarking from a cruise will book another one as their next holiday.10,11 So if you’re thinking about taking a cruise, now appears as good a time as any!
After you book your trip, here’s what to do next.
Here at DocHQ, we can help you to get your travel health all in order before you set sail on your cruising adventure. Whether you just need a booster jab or a whole set of vaccinations and malaria medication, we can help. Just enter your travel destination along with your travel dates into our online travel vaccine checker to see the helpful information concerning which vaccinations you need and when you need them by. You may require vaccinations like yellow fever or malaria medication, dependent upon your destination. You can then use this online tool to locate a nearby clinic and book an appointment with just a few clicks. How’s that for hassle-free holidaying?
So whether you’re heading out on the open ocean on a cruise, or you’ve decided to head somewhere historical like Jerusalem on your next trip, use DocHQ to make sure your travel health is taken care of.
References:
1. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2019 Industry Trends and Outlook Report – https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/clia-2019-state-of-the-industry-presentation-(1).pdf
2. The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/record-cruise-passengers-from-uk-ireland/
3. CLIA Global Passenger Report (via Cruise 1st)- https://www.cruise1st.co.uk/blog/cruise-holidays/how-old-is-the-average-cruise-passenger/
4. CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2020 – https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/state-of-the-cruise-industry.pdf
5. CLIA 2019 Internal Deployment Report (via CLIA State of Industry Report 2020) – https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/state-of-the-cruise-industry.pdf
6. CLIA UK and Ireland Cruise Review 2019 – https://cruising.org/news-and-research/press-room/2019/april/uk-and-ireland-cruise-industry-hits-two-million-passengers-for-the-first-time
7. The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/news/record-cruise-passengers-from-uk-ireland/
8. Cruise Market Watch – https://cruisemarketwatch.com/financial-breakdown-of-typical-cruiser/
9. Travel Market Report – https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Heres-What-Each-Major-Ocean-Cruise-Line-Charges-in-Gratuities
10. CLIA Consumer Survey Spring 2019 (via CLIA State of Industry Report 2020) – https://cruising.org/-/media/research-updates/research/state-of-the-cruise-industry.pdf
11. The Florida-Carribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Industry Overview 2018 – https://www.f-cca.com/downloads/2018-Cruise-Industry-Overview-and-Statistics.pdf
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